French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said he considered the EU’s common defence clause “stronger” than the one binding NATO together.
The declaration, made during a visit to Greece, comes as US President Donald Trump is questioning the North Atlantic military alliance, repeatedly calling it a “paper tiger” for not helping out in his war against Iran.
The mutual defence clause enshrined in Article 42.7 of the Treaty of the European Union, which requires other EU countries to come to the defence of any member under attack, is “steadfast”, Macron said.
It is unambiguous and, “in substance, stronger than Article 5” in NATO’s founding treaty, he said in a news conference alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“It allows solidarity between member countries but leaves no option.”
Agreements on defence, energy, innovation
During Macron’s visit, Greece and France renewed their defence cooperation agreement and expanded bilateral ties across multiple sectors, as European countries seek to strengthen deterrence amid growing security challenges.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis extended the defence pact, first signed in 2021, for another five years with automatic renewals thereafter during a ceremony at the Maximos Mansion in Athens.